Film Budgeting - Insider Tips for Film Students and Film
Crew.
This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over
40 film productions. Throughout that time I have never met
a new film school graduate who has a clue about handling the
most important aspect of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had
always assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students
just weren't interested in knowing about film budgets. However
after a recent survey of film students at a reputable film
college we learned that film students DO intuitively understand
that knowing the language of film budgeting is crucial to
their careers in film. Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic
about learning more about film budgeting!
Here's what we discovered from that survey (completed in
late September, 2005):
1.Over 80% of film students are not only interested in learning
more about budgeting for film productions, they are emphatic
about it!
2.In all cases, film students expect to find information
about film budgeting from the internet, or as recommended
reading from their professors.
3.We also learned that there are no references or books available
to film schools or film students on this very needed subject.
Those working in the film business recognize how important
it is to be familiar with film budgeting, if not technically
proficient. The confidentiality of film budgets makes it extremely
difficult, even for working filmmakers, to get familiar with
film budgeting. (I have a true story in my book about a meeting
that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where he wanted to learn
specifics about the budget for his film - in spite of having
been in the film business for over 30 years as an actor and
budding director).
Learning about film budgets while on-the-job comes at the
expense of hard-knocks, expensive film budgeting software
and late night self-training with a technical textbook (if
you can find one). In the 20 years that I've been working
in the film business, I have NEVER shown a film budget to
anyone but a select few insiders - Producers, Production Managers,
Studios, Bonding Companies, etc. So, exposure to actual film
budgets really is an insider's privilege - which I am about
to open the door to for my readers. (Keep in mind the figures
shown are samples only. The figures are real enough, but are
not drawn from my actual past/present/future film productions.)
How can film students get familiar with film budgets while
they have the time and opportunity? The only colleges with
film budgeting in their syllabus (that I could find after
hours of internet searching) was in a specialty course for
Production Managers at the New York Film Academy, and through
mentors at the American Film Institute (where, I'm proud to
say, parts of my book are being used by a mentor there, who
has a long record of producing films including a term as Vice
President of Production at MGM).
The only solution that I see for film students, and for working
film crew, to get familiar with film budgeting is to provide
them with the information myself. But, what kind of information,
and at what level of detail?
The answer to that rhetorical question is - in as simple
a format as possible, yet still be effective. By effective,
I mean that any training in the area of film budgeting will
actually help you impress producers for those few film jobs,
get your script into production, find financing, be rehired
for more film contracts, be more cost effective cinematographers,
etc. Also, the basic concept of translating creative ideas
into a budgeting process is new to most people, especially
those educated in film schools, so that concept should be
presented first.
Film students don't need to become keen budget technicians.
However, they DO need to get enough exposure to film budgets
to understand the fundamentals, and to be able to communicate
to film producers, film studios, bonding companies, banks,
financiers, etc. in the same language as would be expected
from professional filmmakers.
All of the above is covered in my book, Walk The Talk. I
have written a series of 7 free articles based on my book.
They're written for the complete novice, so be patient if
you've already been exposed to film budgeting. (See further
below).
Instant
Download of the EBook for only $22.50 -
immediate access to a practical guide with173 pages of experience
to help you make it in film.
 Click
here to enlarge front/back covers
There is a seventh article that could have been added for
those who haven't been exposed to the simple administrative
procedures like petty cash, purchase orders, check requisitions,
etc. Knowing how to use these forms will put you WAY out in
front of the pack of job-hungry film students looking for
those few film jobs. You'll need to buy my book at this link
Walk The Talk to get that inside advantage. (I have kept the
price affordable, specifically with students in mind.)
Here are the article titles:
1.MAKING IT! In Film Production
2. Introduction to Film Budgeting
3. Translating Creative Ideas Into the Film Budgeting Process
4. Your Participation In Above-the-Line Budgeting
5. Your Participation In Below-the-Line Budgeting
6. Your Report Card - Comparing The Budget to Actual Costs
7. Presentation of the Weekly Cost Report - It's As Important
As the Dailies
When you read my articles, print them out. Make your own examples.
Reread them. Send me your questions if you get stuck. You'll
find that you'll be way out in front of the pack!
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See my web page Book Info to
get the full information.
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